A quiet stretch of Glendale turned into a fire scene early Thursday when a huge blaze tore through an empty two-story building under construction, lighting up the pre-dawn sky and sending thick smoke rolling across nearby blocks. Citizen app video of the inferno circulated online as FDNY units barreled into the neighborhood. One firefighter was taken to the hospital after being hurt while battling the flames, according to News 12 New York.
Flames were seen shooting from the structure at 71-57 70th Street just before 1:30 a.m., according to ABC7 New York, which reported that the FDNY quickly upgraded the response to a second alarm as crews worked to get the fire under control. Officials had not released a cause as of Thursday morning.
FDNY Response And Injuries
News 12 New York reported that the fire tore through a two-story empty building under construction on 70th Street between Central Avenue and Myrtle Avenue. One firefighter was taken to the hospital for injuries while crews fought heavy flames, the station said. Firefighters remained on scene after the bulk of the fire was knocked down so they could secure the property while investigators checked for a cause.
Why Construction Sites Can Be Hazardous
Vacant or unoccupied structures and buildings under construction present special hazards because they often lack working fire-suppression systems and can have large openings that let flames spread, FDNY guidance says. FDNY procedures note that vacant-building incidents frequently require a more cautious, defensive strategy to limit risk to firefighters and protect nearby exposures. Officials asked anyone with video or information about the Glendale blaze to contact investigators, according to ABC7 New York.
